Container and method of stacking the same



Sept. 10, 1935. c. s. EVANS CONTAINER AND METHOD OF STACKING THE SAME Fil ed Aug. 12, 1953 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Sept. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER AND METHOD OF STACKING THE SAME Charles S. Evans, Oakland, Calif., assignor to Fibreboard Products Inc.,' San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application August 12, 1933, Serial No. 684,856 7 Claims. (01. 229-16) tion of my invention. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to this disclosure of species of my invention, as I may adopt variant embodiments thereof within the scope of the claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a stack of containers embodying my invention; and

Figure 2 is a side elevation of one of the individual containers shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure l, but showing a modified form of my container construction; and

Figure 4 is a side elevation of one of the individual containers shown in Figure 3.

In terms of broad inclusion, the container embodying my invention comprises top, bottom, end and side walls, and is provided with bevelled edges along the junctions between certain of the walls. Preferably only those edges which encircle two opposing walls are bevelled. My method of stacking such containers, in which less than all of the container edges are bevelled; comprises placing the containers in the stack with a bevelled edge of one container alongside an unbevelled edge of an adjacent container. With containers in which only the edges encircling two opposing vertical walls are bevelled, my method of stacking comprises arranging the containers in rows and columns with adjacent containers in each row positioned with an end and side wall abutting and with adjacent containers in each column positioned with end and side walls facing the same direction. By this method of stacking a 3-way ventilation is provided in the stack; viz., ventilating channels are provided which extend transversely, longitudinally and vertically through the stack.

' In greater detail, and referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the preferred form of container embodying my invention comprises a pair of telescoping sections 2 and 3 fabricated from any suitable material, such as fibreboard. These sections are preferably each made from a single blank of air circulation through the container.

material, suitably creased and folded. The edges 4 encircling the end walls of the container are bevelled, and these bevelled edges are preferably provided with suitable apertures 6 to allow for In this 5 preferred form of my construction the containers are square shaped, that is, substantially square in horizontal section. The size of the containers is subject to variation within wide limits, the only requirement being that the size be uniform 10 for all containers in the same stack.

It will be observed that only the edges encircling two opposing vertical walls of the container are bevelled, the edges between the side and the top and bottom walls being formed by a right angle fold in the ordinary manner. As in the usual bevelled edge type of container construction the purpose of the bevelled edges is to provide for ventilation in the stack. Bevelling of the edges of a container provides the desirable ventilation but complicates the folding of the container and increases the cost of manufacture, as well as decreases the capacity of the container. The object of my invention is to provide a full 3-way ventilation through a stack with a minimum number of bevelled edges in the container. The method of stacking the containers shown in Figure 2, to give the 3-way ventilation comprises arranging the containers in horizontal files or rows and vertical files or columns with adjacent containers in each row positioned with end and side walls abutting, and with adjacent containers in each column positioned with end and side walls facing the same direction, as clearly shown in Figure 1.

This 90 degree rotation of every other container in the stack is permitted by reasonof the containers being substantially square in horizontal section. The idea of rotating the containers of course is to position a bevelled edge adjacent each unbevelled edge. Thus, a container which is bevelled on only two ends will, if stacked in accordance with the method of my invention, provide a ventilating channel along each edge of the containers in the stack. Since the containers are of substantially equal size, and since the I containers are orderly arranged in rows and columns, the passages formed by the bevelled edges will be aligned to form continuous and unobstructed channels extended transversely, longitudinally and vertically through the stack.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a variant form of container embodying my invention. In this construction the edges encircling the top and bottom walls only are bevelled. This container also Y square shape.

comprises a pair of telescoping sections 1 and 8; the bevelled eges 9 being provided about the top wall of the upper section 'I and about the bottom wall of the lower section 8. Suitable apertures II are provided in the bevelled edges 9.

The containers constructed in this manner are made of uniform size, but do not have to be of As shown in Figure 3, the containers are arranged in rows and columns, so that the bevelled edges register to provide channels extending transversely and longitudinally of the stack. In this arrangement the apertures II are depended upon to efiect the vertical circulation through the stack. While not as efiective for all purposes as my preferred container and stacking arrangement shown in Figure 1, the present construction is satisfactory for use with articles which are not packed or do not become packed too tightly in the containers. For example, certain fruits such as apples, pears, etc., because of their firmness and shape, inherently provide intercommunicating voids through the pack. With such articles a satisfactory vertical circulation will be effected in the stack.

I claim:

1. The method of stacking containers each having bevelled edges and unbevelled edges to provide for ventilation through the stack, which comprises placing the containers in the stack with a bevelled edge of one container alongside an unbevelled edge of an adjacent container.

2. The method of stacking square containers each having bevelled edges encircling two opposite walls only so as to provide ventilating channels extending transversely, longitudinally and vertically through the stack, which comprises placing the containers in the stack with a wall having encircling bevelled edges of each container abutting a wall having unbevelled edges of an adjacent container.

3. The method of stacking square containers each having bevelled edges encircling two opposite walls only so as to provide ventilating channels extending transversely, longitudinally and vertically through the stack, which comprises arranging the containers in horizontal and vertical files with ach'acent containers in one file positioned with a wall having encircling bevelled edges abutting a wall having unbevelled edges and with adjacent containers in another file positioned with a wall having encircling bevelled edges and a wall having unbevelled edges facing the same direction.

4. A stack comprising a plurality of containers, each being substantially square in horizontal section and of substantially equal height and having bevelled edges encircling two opposing walls only, said containers being arranged in horizontal and vertical files with adjacent containers in one file positioned with a wall having encircling bevelled edges abutting a wall having unbevelled edges and with adjacent containers in' another file positioned with a wall having encircling bevelled edges and a wall having unbevelled edges facing the same direction so that a bevelled container edge is positioned adjacent each.unbevelled edge in the stack to provide ventilating channels extending transversely, longitudinally and vertically through the stack.

5. The method of stacking square containers each having bevelled edges encircling two opposite walls and having other edges unbevelled to provide ventilation through the stack, which comprises placing the containers in the stack with a bevelled edge of one container alongside an unbevelled edge of an adjacent container.

6. The method of stacking square containers each having bevelled edges encircling two opposite walls and having other edges unbevelled to provide ventilation through the stack, which comprises rotating every other container 90 out of position with respect to the alignment of the bevelled edges as the containers are being stacked.

7. A stack comprising a plurality of containers,

each having bevelled edges and unbevelled edges 

